Scottish Cup First Round – 28th September 2024 @ The Falkirk Stadium
Match Report From Ross McGowan
All roads led to Hampden today as communities the length and breadth of the country dreamed of upsetting all the odds and writing their names into local footballing folklore. It could only be the magic of the Scottish Cup and after vanquishing Hawick Royal Albert in the preliminaries Lochee United’s first round assignment was a trip to the Falkirk Stadium to face East Stirlingshire. Stalwarts of the senior ranks for many years, today’s opponents now play their football in the Lowland League but their current squad boasts notable Scottish Cup pedigree in Morgaro Gomis who was a winner in this competition with Dundee United back in 2010.
There was a welcome return to the Lochee starting lineup for Paul Lunan at the back and it was the Bluebells who started the game the brighter when a Callum Lamb flick-on sent Kerr Hay chasing down the right. He laid the ball into the path of Bobby Linn who got a good curling shot off that Ecrepont kept out with a strong hand in the Shire goal and Callum Lamb’s rebound was smothered by the defender.
Lochee were looking to get Shire’s imposing central defensive partnership turned at every opportunity and they soon carved open a glorious chance when another probing ball over the top set Hay loose once more and his inviting cross was a whisker away from being headed in by George Johnston.
But having weathered the early storm Shire began to settle into the game and notice was served when Spence found space down the right and whipped a dangerous low ball across the face of the Lochee goal with no takers.
The hosts were now starting to take control of the midfield though, and with 30 minutes gone they grabbed the lead with a move down the left flank where Docherty conjured up a looping effort to put Shire 1-0 up.
The goal asked the question of Lochee’s resilience but the answer came in pretty short order when Bobby Linn won a corner down the right and Callum Moore’s delivery found Kerr Hay six yards out where he held off the defender on his back before hooking the ball home on the turn to square the tie at 1-1.
And Hay was instrumental when Lochee snatched the lead moments later. Through sheer desire and will to win he bullied the defender into conceding a throw in down the left and when Callum Lamb cut the ball back to him in the box he took a touch inside before firing back across the keeper and into the net to put Lochee 2-1 up.
That was how the teams went in at half time with Lochee on the ropes at times in the opening 45 but mounting a rousing counter-offensive to go in 2-1 up.
Shire came out for the second half with renewed purpose and vigour, zipping the ball around to good effect and after a good break down the left a cross found Spence at the back post spurring Jamie McCabe into action with a great low save.
But Lochee were unable to resist the renewed waves of Shire attacks and on the 55th minute the tie was squared once more. Brown picked an accurate cross from deep for the hosts and Spence gave his marker the slip ten yards out to head back across McCabe and pull Shire back to 2-2.
Lochee were now living on their nerves and McCabe was forced into another smart stop when Docherty broke inside off the left flank and tried a low shot.
But yet again Lochee dug deep and found the resolve to fight back and with 20 minutes to go Kerr Hay provided the turning point in the match. Louis Joyce spread the ball out right to Bobby Linn who played a perfectly weighted through ball for Hay to chase and with keeper Ecrepont charging off his line there could only be one winner. Hay got there first 20 yards out and Ecrepont was shown a straight red card for the last man challenge.
With the tables well and truly turned Lochee now went on the attack and in the 75th minute they took control of the cup tie. Ewan Murray bulldozed his way into the box off the left and crossed for Bobby Linn who used Joyce’s overlapping run as a decoy before skipping inside and curling in a magnificent goal from the edge of the box to give Lochee a 3-2 lead.
With the hosts now throwing caution to the wind Lochee looked to pick them off on the break when Joyce opened up the play with a terrific diagonal ball out to Lamb who slipped the ball into the path of Callum Moore but the substitute keeper made a last ditch save to keep Shire just about alive in the match.
Then with the game entering injury time Linn found space down the right and crossed low for Cavanagh who laid the ball back for Paterson but desperate goal line defending saw Lochee’s substitute denied.
Lochee saw out the closing exchanges professionally and held on for a well deserved 3-2 victory.
East Stirlingshire had their spells of dominance in this game but Lochee’s fighting spirit and refusal to go away was something that the hosts simply could not match. This was a step up in class for Lochee today but every player stood up to the challenge. Paul Lunan’s presence at the back was noticed today and Louis Joyce was outstanding again giving away very little in the right back position. But man of the match was Kerr Hay who looked like he was born for the big stage this afternoon. When Lochee went 1-0 down he took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned the tie in our favour and was instrumental in the red card that allowed Lochee to go on and win the game.
Keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook feed on Sunday evening to find out who we play in the next round.
We are back to league business next weekend with a trip to Scone Thistle.
As always – COME ON THE CHEE!!!
